Study Abroad…for Four Years?

The Times just published a story on Americans jetting off to Scotland for college, showcasing St. Andrews and the University of Edinburgh. What was really surprising, (and pretty entertaining), were the numbers: despite these students trying to be exotic by studying abroad, St. Andrews boasts almost 20% American students. Apparently the trend of getting the well-respected name coupled with significantly cheaper tuition makes American enrollment at these schools enticing.

Students looking to focus on one particular subject also find the Scottish system to be a good alternative to the traditional liberal arts curriculum in American universities. One student says, “My math and science grades were not so good, and I’m not going to do anything with them when I’m out of school, so I loved the idea of only studying what I’m interested in.”

What do you think about this trend? Would you ever consider taking the plunge to go overseas for your undergrad experience? It will be interesting to see how these trends evolve.

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